Water saving toilet device

ABSTRACT

A water saving toilet device is provided which allows the user to select one of two flush modes at the time of use. A low volume flush mode is selected by turning the handle counter clockwise and a high volume flush mode is selected by turning the handle clockwise. The device can be retrofitted to accommodate existing toilets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of water-saving devices, andmore particularly to the field of water saving toilets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clean water has become a precious commodity in recent years. This can beattributed to increases in population and climatic variabilities causingsevere drought to populated areas. The average American uses about 42gallons of water per day for domestic living. More water is used fortoilet flushing than for any other domestic water application. Thepresent invention offers an elegant and economical solution to theproblem of water wastage by providing a new device which can beinstalled in most toilets already in existence or can be installed innewly constructed homes and businesses. The device of the presentinvention allows the user to select a low volume flush mode for flushingliquid and a higher volume flush mode for flushing semi-solid waste.

The art has put forth several designs to accomplish similar objectives,however, none has achieved this objective in the same manner as thedevice of the present invention. Some of the more pertinent referencesare discussed below.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,452 to Hsiao describes a water savingtoilet which offers variable flush volume. In Hsiao's device this isaccomplished by providing two intake water ports at two differentlevels, each having an independent chain and flapper. Hsiao's device isnot suitable for retrofitting the millions of toilets currently in use.In contrast, the present invention provides a float arm which can beretrofitted to existing toilets and permits variable flush volume from asingle intake water port, chain and flapper mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,513 to Burrowes describes a toilet handle devicewhich can be retrofitted to existing toilets. The handle of Burrowescomprises a cam which allows water to flow into the intake water port aslong as the handle is depressed. In contrast, the device of the presentinvention does not require the handle to be held in place to allow thewater to flow for either volume discharged.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,594 to Wiewiorowski et al describes a water savingtoilet flush control system which comprises a non-buoyant flapper and aneyelet through which passes a flexible line attached to a buoyancymeans. In this device, once the buoyancy means has been adjusted, onlyone flush volume is available. In contrast, the device of the presentinvention utilizes a buoyant flapper, and makes two discreet flushvolumes available to the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,279 to Harney describes a dual volume flush toilet.The device described by this patent has two separate handles, one foreach flush mode. An advantage of the present invention over this deviceis that a single handle moving in opposite directions affects the twoflush volumes of the present invention as opposed to the two separatehandles described by the Harney device.

After a review of the prior art, Applicant asserts that none of theprior art describes, either in whole or in combination, a device whichaccomplishes the same result in the same way as the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel mechanismfor controlling the flush volume of a toilet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelmechanism which can be adapted to almost any toilet now in use.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novelmechanism which allows the user of a toilet to easily select at the timeof use either a high volume flush or a low volume flush by turning thehandle clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively.

The present invention provides a modified float arm which permits theuser to choose a low volume flush by turning the handlecounterclockwise, or a high volume flush by turning the handleclockwise. The low volume flush can be used to effectively evacuateliquid waste from the toilet bowl, while the high volume flush issometimes needed to evacuate solid waste material from the toilet bowl.By selecting the appropriate volume of water to flush, a significantamount of water is saved.

The modified float arm of the present invention comprises a float rodwhich has on its distal end two protrusions, one of which is movable,for controlling the length of time and distance that the flapper isopen. In addition to the float rod, is a flush control arm which moveswith the float rod, but at a different pivot axis. The float rod and theflush control arm move simultaneously to control the length of time theflapper opens and thereby controlling the amount of water discharged. Inone embodiment, the flush control arm comprises two essentially parallelsides, although a single piece construction is also contemplated. If theflush control arm has two essentially parallel sides, the float rodtravels between the two essentially parallel sides of the flush controlarm and serves to control the movement of the barrel and tether. If theflush control arm is constructed of one piece, the float rod travelsalongside of the flush control arm. The flush volume is selected bydirectional variance of the handle. Rotation in one direction directlymoves the float rod upward, like is commonly known. Rotation in theopposite direction actuates a cam mechanism which rotates the flushcontrol arm.

The actual mechanism of the invention is described in more detail in theDetailed Description of the Invention, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the device of the present invention shownin the “closed” position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the device of the present invention shownin the “open” position for low volume flush.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the device of the present invention shownin the “open” position for high volume flush.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the flush control arm.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the float rod.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway front view of the mounting block.

FIG. 7 is a sequence showing the movement of the barrel in the flushcontrol arm past the upper catch in the float rod for the open highvolume flush position.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the offset mounting positions of the flushcontrol arm and the float rod, and also showing the cam mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cam.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the offset mounting positions of the flushcontrol arm and the float rod on the mounting block.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the invention showing completion of thehigh volume flush discharge.

FIG. 12 is a detail of the float rod showing the pin and slot on theprimary pivot axis shaft.

FIG. 13 is a detail of the barrel and tether controlling end of theflush control arm showing the single piece embodiment of the flushcontrol arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the user to flush the toilet in either oftwo flush volumes. The two flush volumes are low volume flush forevacuation of liquid waste from the toilet bowl, or high volume flushfor evacuation of solid waste from the toilet bowl. The actual volume ofboth of these flush modes is predetermined by adjusting the placement ofthe float 20 on the float stem 18, and held in place by float clip 50.This is shown in FIG. 1. If the float is placed lower on (or moredistally on) the float stem, the greater will be the volume of waterevacuated when the toilet is flushed.

Although the following discussion describes the operation of the instantdevice having a flush control arm comprised of two essentially parallelsides, one-piece construction is also envisioned. This one-piece flushcontrol arm is depicted in FIG. 13, which shows additionally, an arcuategap 106 to accommodate the tether 10. In one-piece construction, thefloat rod travels alongside the flush control arm. In the case of atwo-sided flush control arm, the float rod travels between the two sidesof the flush control arm.

LOW VOLUME FLUSH—See FIGS. 2, 10 and 12. This is the primary flush modefor the invention and is the flush mode selected when operating thetoilet by turning the handle 28 in a counter clockwise direction. Whenhandle 28 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the shaft 30rotates as constrained by the bearing surface 52 of the primary pivotaxis 24, then shaft 30 engages the pin 32, which causes float rod 4 torotate also. Bearing surface 52 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. Shaft 30 isdescribed herein as being a thin-walled tube creating a hollow shaft,but this feature is not critical to the instant invention and a solidshaft can also be used in the present invention. Pin 32 intersects floatrod 4 through apertures 60,62. Shaft 30 passes through float rod 4through opening 64. This is shown in FIG. 12. Apertures 60,62 arepositioned in float rod 4 so that pin 32 is orthogonal to both shaft 30and primary pivot axis 24. Pin 32 passes through shaft 30 at slots 36,37. Slots 36,37 in shaft 30, circumferentially describe the outersurface of the shaft for approximately 90 ninety degrees on opposingouter surfaces of shaft 30. See FIG. 12. This arrangement allows shaft30 to engage pin 32 when shaft 30 is rotated counter clockwise, but tonot engage pin 32 when the shaft is rotated clockwise. This counterclockwise rotation causes float rod 4 to move upward until it contactsstop block 34. Float rod 4 travels between two essentially parallelsides of flush control arm 2. This can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. As thefloat rod 4 moves upward it carries with it the barrel 14, the tether 10and flapper 12. Flapper 12 remains open until the level of the waterfalls below the buoyancy capability of the float 20 which then causesfloat rod 4 to rotate clockwise and downward as the water drains to alevel at which the flapper 12 closes. Once the flapper 12 closes, thewater reservoir inside the toilet refills until the high water levelcontrol float reaches its stop in the customary fashion. When the highwater level control float reaches its stop, the water flow ceases andthe toilet is ready to be flushed again. The high level control float isnot shown in the drawings in order to clarify the actual novel featuresof the present invention, but is contemplated to be a high level controlfloat as is commonly utilized in toilets.

FULL (HIGH) VOLUME FLUSH (Note that the high volume flush does not drainthe reservoir, but dispenses the legal maximum of approximately 1.6gallons per flush)—This is the flush mode to be used for evacuatingsolid or semi-solid waste from the toilet bowl and is brought about byturning the handle 28 in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 3. Whenthe handle 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the shaft 30 rotatesclockwise about primary pivot axis 24. This rotation has no effect onthe float rod 4 because there are slots 36,37 on the primary pivot axisshaft 30 which allows the float rod 4 to rotate counter clockwise withrespect to shaft 30 without engaging pin 32 which pin 32 passes throughslots 36, 37 in the shaft 30 that intersects the shaft 30 and isperpendicular to the primary pivot axis 24. These features are depictedin FIG. 12. Clockwise rotation of shaft 30 has no effect on the floatrod 4 because slots 36, 37 in shaft 30 allow shaft 30 to rotateclockwise with respect to the float rod 4 without engaging pin 32. Cams38, 40 are fixed to the primary pivot axis shaft 30 so that by rotatingthe shaft 30 clockwise, the lobes 42, 44 on the flush control arm areengaged which causes the flush control arm 2 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, which pivots about the secondary pivot axis 26 asconstrained by the secondary pivot axis shaft 48. This is shown in FIG.6. The above description of the invention refers to two cams 38, 40 fortwo-piece construction of the flush control arm and two lobes 42,44 toengage the cams. However, one-piece construction of the flush controlarm would have only one lobe 42, and therefore only one cam 38 to engagelobe 42. As with the low volume flush mode, float rod 4 travels inbetween the two essentially parallel sides of flush control arm 2.Movement of the flush control arm 2 in a counterclockwise directionraises the barrel 14, which is connected to the tether 10 and theflapper 12, thereby lifting flapper 12. At the same time the flushcontrol arm 2 moves upward, the float rod 4 also moves upward due to itsbuoyancy created by float 20. Float rod 4 moves upward until it reachesstop block 34 located on mounting block 22. Continued manual clockwiserotation of the handle 28 causes continued counter-clockwise rotation offlush control arm 2 about the secondary pivot axis 26 until the cams 38,40 contact the stop 56 which limits the clockwise rotation of the handle28. Stop 56 is a protrusion located on either one or both lobes 42, 44.This feature is shown in FIG. 4. Continued rotation causes the barrel 14to move up past the upper catch 6 on float rod 4. When barrel 14 movesupward, it contacts the lower surface of upper catch 6 and causes uppercatch 6 to rotate counter clockwise. This rotation of upper catch 6permits the barrel 14 to move past the upper catch 6. This is shown inFIG. 7. Spring 16 returns upper catch 6 to its original position,thereby preventing the downward movement of barrel 14. Barrel 14 alwaystravels inside slot 46 on float rod 4. Due to kinematic constraints thetether 10 is required to be elastic and of a spring constant sufficientto be able to lift the flapper 12 and overcome the hydrostatic forces ofthe water without too much elongation, but of a small enough springconstant so that it can stretch the length necessary to allow the barrel14 to move past the upper catch 6 without appreciable resistance. Forexample, a tether having a spring constant defined by force/distance ofapproximately 6 to 10 pounds per inch is suitable for use in the presentinvention. When barrel 14 moves up past the upper catch 6, upper catch 6is forced down by means of spring 16. The movement of upper catch 6 byspring 16 prevents the barrel 14 from moving down. This mechanism holdsthe flapper 12 open to allow evacuation of the toilet bowl. At thispoint, the handle is released and the return spring 58 (shown in FIG. 6)returns the handle 28 to its original position. The flapper 12 remainsopen until the water level drops to the point of the limit of thebuoyancy capability of the float 20. At that point, both float rod 4,flush control arm 2, and the flapper 12 start rotating clockwise as thewater level drops. The float rod 4 and flush control arm 2 havedifferent pivot axes. Primary pivot axis 24 is the pivot center for thefloat rod 4, and secondary pivot axis 26 is the pivot center for theflush control arm 2. The offset pivot centers of the primary pivot axis24 and secondary pivot axis 26 is critical to the instant invention.Although the present invention is described with respect to a specificrelationship between the pivot axes, other relationships have beencontemplated and are considered to be included in the scope of thisinvention. For example, the relationship can be optimized for a varietyof applications, such as manufacturing considerations, or differenttoilet reservoir shapes.

In the present embodiment, as the water level drops, the differencebetween the arc scribed by the float rod 4 at the upper catch 6 and thearc scribed by the flush control arm 2 at the channel 46 causes a gapbetween the distal end of the upper catch 6, and the distal end of thechannel 46 of the flush control arm 2 which allows the barrel 14 toslide off the end of the upper catch 6 on the float rod 4 and onto shelf8. At this point, the barrel 14 is no longer restrained by the uppercatch 6 because the upper catch 6 is rotating away from the distal endof the channel 46 of the flush control arm 2. The force from flapper 12on the barrel 14 via the tether 10 has a component toward the distal endof the upper catch 6. This results in the barrel 14 always being locatedat the distal end of the upper catch 6. The barrel 14 moves freelywithin the channel 46 on the flush control arm 2. When barrel 14 slidesoff upper catch 6 onto shelf 8, the flapper 12 is relieved from therestraint holding the flapper 12 open and flapper 12 closes. Similarlythe float rod 4 is relieved of the of the weight of the flapper when thebarrel 14 drops from the upper catch 6 and therefore rotatescounter-clockwise due to the buoyancy of the float 20 until the lowershelf 8 is restrained by the barrel 14, tether 10 and flapper 12 whichis held closed by the hydrostatic force of the water.

Once the flapper 12 closes, the water reservoir inside the toiletrefills until the high water level control float reaches its stop in thecustomary fashion. When the high water level control float reaches itsstop, the water flow ceases and the toilet is ready to be flushed again.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and variousmodifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skillin the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings and the appended claims.

1. A float arm device comprising: a) a mounting block; b) a flushcontrol arm having a first end and a second end and the flush controlarm is mounted to the mounting block near the first end of the flushcontrol arm; and c) a float rod having a first end and a second end andthe float rod is mounted to the mounting block near the first end of thefloat rod at a predetermined distance from the mounting of the first endof the flush control arm.
 2. The float arm device of claim 1 wherein theflush control arm comprises two essentially parallel sides.
 3. The flushcontrol arm of claim 1 further comprising: a) an opening at apredetermined distance from the first end for receiving a secondarypivot axis shaft; and b) a channel near the second end opposite thefirst end, for receiving a barrel; and c) the flush control arm furtherhaving a lobe near the first end.
 4. The float rod of claim 1 furthercomprising: a) a first end and a second end opposite the first end, b)the first end having an opening for receiving a primary pivot axisshaft, c) and the second end opposite the first end having a shelf and acatch.
 5. A water saving toilet device comprising a float armcomprising: a) a mounting block; b) a flush control arm having a firstend and a second end and the flush control arm is mounted to themounting block near the first end of the flush control arm; and c) afloat rod having a first end and a second end and the float rod ismounted to the mounting block near the first end of the float rod apredetermined distance from the mounting of the first end of the flushcontrol arm, and d) the capability of evacuating two specific volumes ofwater.
 6. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 comprising a floatarm further comprising the capability of being installed in existingtoilets.
 7. The water saving toilet device of claim 5 comprising a floatarm further comprising: the flush control arm having two essentiallyparallel sides.
 8. The water saving toilet device of claim 7 wherein theflush control arm having two essentially parallel sides, each side beingessentially identical and each side having a first end and a second end,and each side further comprising: a) an opening at a specific distancefrom the first end for receiving a secondary pivot axis shaft and b) achannel in the second end opposite the first end, for receiving abarrel; and c) at least one side having a lobe near the first end. 9.The water saving toilet device of claim 5 the float rod furthercomprising the first end having an opening for receiving a primary pivotaxis shaft and the second end opposite the first end having a shelf anda catch.
 10. The water saving toilet device of claim 9 having thecapability of evacuating two specific volumes of water.
 11. The watersaving toilet device of claim 8 further comprising a handle and a camfor engaging the lobe on the flush control arm so that clockwiserotation of the handle causes counter clockwise rotation of the flushcontrol arm.
 12. The water saving toilet device of claim 8 furthercomprising a handle so that counter clockwise rotation of the handlecauses counter clockwise rotation of the float rod.
 13. The water savingtoilet device of claim 5 wherein the flush control arm has a first endand a second end and further comprising: a) an opening at a specificdistance from the first end for receiving a secondary pivot axis shaftand b) a channel in the second end opposite the first end, for receivinga barrel; and c) a lobe near the first end.
 14. The water saving toiletdevice of claim 13 further comprising a handle and a cam for engagingthe lobe on the flush control arm so that clockwise rotation of thehandle causes counter clockwise rotation of the flush control arm. 15.The water saving toilet device of claim 13 further comprising a handleso that counter clockwise rotation of the handle causes counterclockwise rotation of the float rod.
 16. A method of saving waterutilizing the device of claim 15 comprising: selecting low flush volumeand rotating the handle counter clockwise causing counter clockwiserotation of the float rod and eventual evacuation of a low volume ofwater from the toilet.
 17. A method of saving water utilizing the deviceof claim 14 comprising selecting high flush volume and rotating thehandle clockwise causing counter clockwise rotation of the flush controlarm and eventual evacuation of a high volume of water from the toilet.